Northeast, 19th October: The Power Department of Meghalaya continues to grapple with financial challenges, with an outstanding debt of Rs 665 crores. This debt primarily arises from delayed payments to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Initially, the bill was Rs 244 crores, but due to late payments, it has escalated to the current amount.
To address this growing issue, the government will make an initial payment of Rs 565 crores to NTPC. Half of this amount is covered by the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan initiative. The Power Minister, AT Mondal, expressed concerns about the debt surpassing Rs 1,000 crores if not addressed promptly.
After negotiations with NTPC, an agreement was reached for a reduced payment of Rs 565 crores to be made in 20 installments. However, this poses a financial challenge for the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MEPDCL), which is already dealing with financial constraints.